PhD Student

Supervised by Professor Andy Guppy and Dr Erica Cook.

I am a PhD Student in the area of Health Psychology and I also work in the Public Health Team in Hertfordshire. I share my experience and expertise of Health Psychology to fellow health professionals whilst having a passion for research. I currently provide psychological therapy to patients to inform and influence healthy lifestyle choices. I have worked in the NHS, charities, private sector companies and now in Local Authority.

As a result of being a PhD student I now benefit from being a part of the Research Centre of Applied Psychology and Institute of Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire. I have also been fortunate to be invited on to television programs and local radio stations to explain the influence of Psychology in everyday life.

My current goals are to become a qualified Health Psychologist and complete my PhD. I am also a member of the BPS, Midlands Health Psychology Network and have recently joined the Health Psychology Public Health Network East of England. A further and important passion of mine is the application of Psychology. I would like to also add that I encourage others to contact me who have similar interests and these are highlighted below.

Other References

• LinkedIn profile

Qualifications

• BSc Psychology - University of Hertfordshire, 2007-2010
• MSc Psychology - University of Bedfordshire, 2011-2012

Research Interests

• Health Behaviour Interventions
• Health Behaviours (Physical Activity, Obesity, Eating, Smoking, Sexual Health)
• Coping and Pain Management (Stress, Illness and Disease)
• Public Health (Mental Health, Population Studies, Intervention Mapping, Safeguarding)
• Environmental Psychology
• Religion, Cultural and Interpersonal Psychology

Recent Research Projects

• The current research is focused around the application of motivational interviewing on the 'door step'. This intervention is being delivered in Luton and central Bedfordshire to encourage sustainable travel and positively influence physical activity. In addition the research is investigating the 'Psychological Variables' that change and maintain before and after this intervention. The Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model are two of the theories which are being used to explain in this research in relation to sustainable travel and physical activity behaviour.
• My previous research consisted of looking the role of emotional and restrained eating behaviour. The study adopted an experimental approach in which participants were blindfolded and ask to consume food. The research found that those that scored highly on restrained (Dieter's) consumed more food whilst blindfolded, a similar effect occurred for those who scored high on the emotional scale. This research is currently being prepared for publication.
• My former research project also used an experimental approach which focused around in learning a new skill (Juggling) over a 28 day period. The study found that those who successfully learned who to juggle over this period recorded to be more creative.

Service to the Academic/Professional Community

• Contributor and Editor of the East of England Health Psychology in Public Health Network.

Contact Details

E: jolel.miah@study.beds.ac.uk